Build, maintain, and improve Kubernetes clusters and containerized application deployments across cloud environments (AWS, EKS, RKE2)
Develop and manage infrastructure as code (IaC) to provision and configure platform resources consistently and repeatably
Own and improve CI/CD pipelines, including GitLab CI configuration, runner deployments, and automated build and deployment workflows
Support identity and access management through tools such as Keycloak, including user onboarding, role configuration, and troubleshooting
Implement and maintain monitoring, alerting, and logging to ensure platform health and support incident investigation
Manage certificate lifecycle operations, including renewal of public certificates and related automation
Contribute to platform security posture through container security practices, Iron Bank image compliance, and support for ATO processes
Collaborate with application teams to troubleshoot deployment issues, broken pipelines, and platform integration problems
Write and maintain technical documentation, runbooks, architecture decision records (ADRs), and operational standards
Influence the strategic vision by contributing to the strategic planning that aligns technological advancements with the mission objectives
Participate in on-call rotations and support platform incidents in a tier 2 role
Mentor and support junior engineers through pairing, code reviews, and knowledge sharing

Hands-on experience with Kubernetes (deploying, managing, and troubleshooting clusters and workloads)
Experience with infrastructure as code tools (e.g., Terraform, Pulumi, or similar)
Proficiency with CI/CD tooling, particularly GitLab CI or equivalent pipeline platforms
Working knowledge of Linux/Unix operating systems and command-line administration
Experience with cloud platforms, preferably AWS (EC2, EKS, IAM, S3, VPC)
Familiarity with containerization (Docker, container image builds, registry management)
Ability to read and write YAML fluently for Kubernetes manifests, CRDs, Helm charts, and pipeline configurations
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently in a remote, asynchronous environment
US citizenship required; must be eligible for CUI access
Possess or ability to obtain a DoD 8570 IAT II certification (e.g., Security+ CE)

Hold or be eligible for a security clearance
Experience with UDS Core, Iron Bank, and/or Continuous Authority to Operate (C-ATO) processes
Familiarity with identity and access management platforms such as Keycloak or similar
Experience with monitoring and observability tooling (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack, or similar)
Proficiency in one or more programming languages (Go, Python, or Bash scripting)
Experience working in a DevSecOps model with secure coding practices and vulnerability remediation
Familiarity with GitOps workflows and tools (e.g., Flux, ArgoCD)
Department of Defense experience, specifically working on a production ATO’d system
Experience with distributed architectures and everything-as-code approaches
AWS certifications related to platform or solutions architecture
Experience writing architecture decision records (ADRs), operational runbooks, or engineering standards

Defense Unicorns is hiring a Platform Engineer